Disney Legend Joe Rohde retired recently. He’s not staying retired. Forty years as a Disney Imagineer wasn’t enough for him, so he’s going back to Disney.

Mr. Rohde is returning to the House of Mouse to teach future generations of Imagineers. An Imagineer must be part architect, part engineer, part artist, and 100% dreamer. It’s an awesome responsibility. Disney Imagineering announced on Instagram that “Beginning this week, Imagineers have an opportunity to participate in a series of master class work sessions led by Joe Rohde. Following in the footsteps of many former Imagineers, Joe continues to mentor and share his years of storytelling knowledge with current Imagineers, contributing to the future of creativity at Walt Disney Imagineering.”

Joe Rohde is the creative force behind many of your favorite attractions. He’s the brains behind Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World and Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawai’i. He also designed Expedition Everest and was responsible for adapting rides from American Disney parks to their sister parks overseas.

“Rohde is a man whose oversized influence and ambition has made him one of the greatest Imagineers of all time. If you’ve ever been to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, you’ve basically been inside Rohde’s brain.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger

There is no word yet if this will be in addition to or instead of Mr. Rohde working as an Experience Engineer for Virgin Galactic. Best wishes to Joe Rohde in this new phase of his creative career, and to his students. We’re glad you’re still part of the magic.

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Susan Macdonald
Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress ”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.